Û20m plan to transform city transport set to win funding
Date Published: {J}
By Denise McNamara
The most “visionary” integrated transport plan ever to be drawn up for the city is odds-on favourite to win €20m funding after it was approved by councillors last night.
The second phase of the Galway City Smarter Travel Bid - which must be lodged by Friday (April 30) - needed the support of the council before it could be submitted to the Government in a bid to win a share of the €50m pot of money.
The city’s plan seeks to reduce car usage by nearly half by 2020, with measures to encourage workers and students to increase their use of bikes by 11%, public transport by 10% and walking by 7%.
Galway City Manager Joe MacGrath said the plan was “the most comprehensive, visionary, integrated transport plan this city has ever seen”.
Director of services for transportation and infrastructure Ciarán Hayes said of the 39 submissions received from Cork, Limerick and parts of Dublin, Galway was in the top two at the first stage of the bidding war.“They’re focusing on one particular area – we’re focusing on a broader range of issues...hopefully it will happen and we will be successful in our bid,” he remarked.
For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.